SOURCE: Barnett, Ursula A. “Short Stories.” In A Vision of Order: A Study of Black South African Literature in English (1914–1980), pp. 198–203. London: Sinclair Browne Ltd., 1983.

In the following excerpt, Barnett explores the roles of religion and morality in The Collector of Treasures.

Bessie Head, in a volume of short stories entitled The Collector of Treasures,¹ is concerned with ideas similar to those in her novels. This time she makes use of incidents that have been related to her, and of Botswana history, legend and myth, as the basis for her fiction. She explores the meaning and values of traditional life and as usual goes right to the heart of everything that she examines. What is it for instance, she wants to know, that prevents a city-reared girl, significantly named ‘Life’² in the story that takes its name from the character, from finding her niche in the village community...